NEWS: Cockpit Arts launches new Ceramic Residency

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21st August 2017

In the first week of September 2017, Cockpit Arts will launch its new Ceramic Residency, made possible by the generosity of a Circle of Patrons.

This is a unique development opportunity for a talented ceramicist to explore new ideas and concepts: Cockpit Arts will provide a support structure for the selected maker to develop their work and ideas and, at the same time, work towards a sustainable model of practice. The one year Residency is worth £5,000 and covers the cost of Cockpit Arts’ support services including a designated Residency studio at Cockpit’s centre in south London. It is open to all UK based ceramic practitioners and applications will be invited from ceramicists not currently based at Cockpit Arts.

The idea for this new initiative was borne from a Cockpit Arts Supporters’ evening earlier this year, hosted by collector and curator, Preston Fitzgerald, who has a passion for ceramics. Cockpit’s supporters felt that while in recent years ceramics has become a more integrated field across contemporary arts practice, starting up or developing a ceramic practice is difficult, costly and time consuming. Given this, the aim is to offer a unique type of residency for ceramicists: providing the time and space for a maker to develop their work and ideas, as well as support to help create a sustainable business model or further accelerate an existing one. Cockpit Arts has a particular interest in supporting a ceramicist who has a strong desire to experiment and take risks with their practice over the Residency period, in order to push the boundaries of their current practice.

The selection panel, comprising gallerist Sarah Myerscough; art critic Emma Crichton-Miller, ceramicist Felicity Aylieff and Cockpit Arts CEO Vanessa Swann, will be looking for a maker who demonstrates originality, innovation, creativity, craft skills and quality in the work and concepts presented. As well as these criteria, they want to identify a ceramicist who can clearly demonstrate the difference being at Cockpit Arts will make to their practice and business.

Cockpit Arts acknowledges that many makers outside of London do not have the means to relocate and set up in the capital; thanks to the generosity of the Patrons involved, there will be a runner up prize of coaching and support for an applicant based outside London.

The Cockpit Arts Ceramic Residency is offered in partnership with Rohde Kilns.